In a significant step toward enhancing the security framework of India’s expanding digital payments infrastructure, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and the Institute for Development and Research in Banking Technology (IDRBT) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on bolstering cybersecurity and resilience across platforms like UPI.
The strategic partnership is designed to elevate the overall safety of digital transactions by focusing on comprehensive training, heightened awareness, and proactive risk management practices.
Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and CEO of NPCI, highlighted the broader vision behind the collaboration, stating, “Strengthening cyber resilience is not just about technology, but also about people and preparedness.” He further emphasized that robust training, certification programmes, and intelligence-sharing will play a vital role in raising the bar for security standards.
Dr. Deepak Kumar, Director of IDRBT, underlined the institute’s commitment to supporting the financial sector’s digital evolution. He noted that this formal alliance with NPCI will deepen cybersecurity awareness and enable the creation of resilient response mechanisms within the digital payments ecosystem.
As part of the MoU, both organisations will introduce joint training initiatives tailored for cybersecurity and technology professionals in banking and digital finance. These sessions will cover critical areas including data privacy, cyber risk, and system resiliency.
A major deliverable of the partnership will be the rollout of an NPCI-certified Payment Security Certification Programme. This new certification will be structured to meet contemporary industry standards and align with current regulatory expectations—ensuring professionals remain prepared for evolving cyber threats.
Moreover, IDRBT will provide access to its cyber threat intelligence platform for NPCI and its affiliated partners. This service will offer real-time, actionable intelligence to preempt potential cyber threats and reinforce the nation’s digital payments infrastructure.
This collaboration comes at a pivotal time, with platforms like UPI witnessing unprecedented growth and user adoption—making cybersecurity not just a technical requirement but a strategic imperative.
